Town of Victor: Make way for $3.5M fixes

Sunday

Jan 5, 2014 at 5:26 AM

By Melody Burrimelody@messengerpostmedia.com

VICTOR — The town is planning to rehabilitate a 2.8-mile section of High Street, but it’s going to need additional land from homeowners in the area to do so.A special meeting with public hearing has been set by the Town Board for Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. to brief residents on the “proposed acquisition of property necessary” to do the work.In order for the $3.5 million project to move ahead, 26 High Street property owners will need to voluntarily turn over a portion of their parcels to make way for roadway, sidewalk and drainage improvements and a new biking/jogging lane.Officials are hopeful that all will weigh the benefits and comply. If not, the town will likely exercise eminent domain — which is the right of a government to take private property for public use, with compensation.At the Jan. 21 meeting at the Town Hall, 85 E. Main St., residents will learn specifics of the proposed project and how it would serve the public. Property owners will also have the opportunity to voice comments on the impact they believe the proposed rehabilitation would have on them and on the environment.

About the projectThe project would start at the Victor village line (near Saint Patrick’s Cemetery) and end at High Street Extension near Route 96.The High Street rehabilitation project would include pavement reconstruction and adjacent paved and widened shoulder reconstruction. The addition of new left turn lanes is also proposed at intersections with Victor Central School, Championship Drive, Willowbrook Road, Gillis Road and Valentown Road.Also included in the project are water main upgrades, gutters and drainage system improvements, as well as the addition of new sidewalk between the village line and Lane Road, said Highway Department Superintendent Mark Years. From the Thruway overpass to Route 96 by Eastview Mall, there would be a 5-foot paved shoulder for pedestrians, bikers and joggers, he added.The width of the actual “travel lanes” for vehicles, along with the profile of the road, would stay the same, Years said. And since the road is being redone, it made sense to address the drainage at the same time, he said.“Mainly it’s updating pavement structures, getting drainage, putting some turning lanes in,” he said.Most of the road work nearest the school would be done when school is not in session, Years said. Work is slated for May through October of this year.The $3.5 million cost for the project will be funded from several sources, according to Supervisor Jack Marren.“Water reserves will be utilized for water-related improvements, and an undetermined portion will come from a reserve fund,” Marren said. “The balance after use of reserves we will have to borrow.”

Impact on property ownersNone of this can happen, however, unless the town acquires “permanent easements, temporary easements or fee simple interests” (absolute ownership) on portions of selected parcels on High Street, Lane Road, Willowbrook Road, Trillium Trail, Brunswick Lane, Gillis Road, Sachem Trail, Franlee Lane and Route 96, according to the public notice issued by the town clerk.“The Town Board is certainly hoping that residents see the value of this project, specifically from a safety aspect (turning lanes, walking or bike paths),” said Marren.The public notice issued on Jan. 2 states that “the Town Board is hopeful that the interests in real property necessary to complete the proposed High Street Rehabilitation Project can be acquired voluntarily.” However, the notice said, “if any of the interests cannot be obtained voluntarily, completion of the project would require the town to exercise its power of eminent domain, as outlined by state law.”Individual notices about the Jan. 21 public hearing are being sent to residents who will be impacted by the right of way, inviting them to discuss the acquisition of right of way.Years said he has been in contact with 18 of the 26 property owners, along with representatives from LaBella Associates, the town’s engineering firm.“We’ve met with about two-thirds of the people, and everybody’s very excited about it,” said Years, citing specific interest in infrastructure improvements, new turning lanes and sidewalks, increased safety and new space for walkers and joggers.“The letter will go out to everyone along the whole entire length of High Street about what the project’s going to entail,” Years said.

Opportunity to respondResidents may submit written statements or documents concerning the project to the Town Board before or at the hearing. Property owners should take note that if they choose to legally challenge the condemnation of their property, they may do so only on the basis of issues, facts and objections raised at the Jan. 21 hearing.